NOVEMBER 16, 2022:
The Palmer Gulch Fire that started on October 30, 2022, is now controlled. Fire crews have been mopping up the area for the past two weeks to ensure all hot spots have been extinguished. The fire burned 88 acres.
“Personnel will be working in the area for the next week or so to rehab dozer lines that were put in to stop the forward progress of the fire,” said Todd Hoover, Fire Management Officer for the Hell Canyon Ranger District. “There is more cleanup work to do and that will be done in the spring.”
The road closure on Palmer Creek Road is no longer in effect. Trails are now open, but the public is asked to avoid use of Palmer Creek Trail #2 until the foot bridge that was burned in the fire has been replaced. Additional safety rehab work on the trails will be completed in the spring.
NOVEMBER 2, 2022:
Firefighters continue to reinforce the fire line at the Palmer Gulch fire today (Nov. 2, 2022) while also remaining vigilant about overhead hazards such as snag trees (standing dead trees). Mop up operations continue as firefighters eliminate hot spots near the fire’s edge.
Last night, heavy dead and down fuels burned within the fire perimeter, but the fire remained within containment lines. The containment has been increased to 50% while the size remains at 87 acres. An estimated 112 personnel are assigned to the fire.
Initial attack support remains in place should a new fire ignite. Aircraft including helicopters, air attack, and Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) remain as available resources to firefighters.
Road closure order on Palmer Creek Road remains in place until further notice. For public safety, trail numbers #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, and #9S will remain closed until further notice. Smoke is expected to be present in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.
The National Weather Service’s Spot Forecast calls for low humidity and gusty winds today, resulting in Red Flag Conditions. Southwest winds will increase to 20 to 30 mph by late morning or by noon, with gusts possibly as high as 45 mph. Winds will drop to 5-10 mph early this evening, then a strong cold front will push through around midnight, bringing gusty north winds. Gusts to 25 mph will be possible. Light snow is expected to develop after midnight tonight, along with temperatures dropping into the upper 20s by daybreak on Thursday. Light snow is also expected after midnight and will continue through the day on Thursday, but snow accumulations are expected to remain under one inch.
For updates on the fire, please visit: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/.
OCTOBER 31, 2022 UPDATE:
Efforts continued yesterday (Oct. 31, 2022) to suppress the Palmer Gulch fire, which is burning within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, near the Black Elk Wilderness Area. Pleasant weather and moderate fire behavior allowed firefighters to continue to strengthen the lines around the fire. Nearly 100 personnel are assigned to the fire as the containment stands at 40%. Due to more accurate mapping, acreage has been updated to 87 acres.
“Forward progress of the fire has been stopped and crews are working to secure the fire perimeter in preparation for incoming weather” said Todd Hoover, Hell Canyon Ranger District’s Fire Management Officer. A Red Flag Warning is in effect due to dry, windy conditions with the weather forecast at the fire calling for highs in the 60s tomorrow and winds gusting from 20 to 30 mph Tuesday afternoon.
A road closure on Palmer Creek Road is in place until further notice. For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail numbers #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, and #9S trail will be closed until further notice. Smoke will continue to be thick in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.
OCTOBER 31, 2022:
Crews are working to suppress the Palmer Gulch wildfire burning approximately 3 miles southeast of Hill City, SD. The fire is estimated at 91 acres in size and is 40% percent contained. A Type-III Incident Management Team led by Jason Rodriguez, Incident Commander, took over management of the fire at 8 am Sunday (Oct. 30, 2022).
Resources currently assigned to the fire include: one National Guard Blackhawk helicopter, four single engine air tankers (SEAT), one air attack, one ten-person fire suppression module, five water tenders, 17 engines, and 22 overhead from Federal, State, and Local agencies.
Observed fire behavior includes active ground fire with 4 to 6 feet flame lengths and occasional tree torching. The fire has burned the valley bottoms along Palmer Creek Road and on the above timbered ridge with heavy dead and down fuels, moving towards the Black Elk Wilderness.
A road closure on Palmer Creek Road is in place until further notice. For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail numbers #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, and #9S trail will be closed until further notice. Smoke will continue to be thick in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.
Photo credit Black Hills National Forest.
OCTOBER 30, 2022:
The Palmer Gulch wildfire is located in Pennington County, 3 miles southeast of Hill City was reported on October 29, 2022, at approximately 1:00 pm. The cause is under investigation. Federal, State, Local, and Air resources have responded and are on scene.
The fire is burning on Black Hills National Forest lands, near the Black Elk Wilderness. The fire burned actively throughout the night as crews worked to place handline around the fire. Currently, the fire is burning in heavy dead and downed timber and estimated at 60 acres.
A road closure on Palmer Creek Road is in place until further notice. For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail numbers #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, #9S and Cathedral Spires trail will be closed until further notice. Smoke will continue to be thick in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.
Low winds will contribute to poor smoke dispersal for local communities. Cool temperatures and no precipitation are forecasted for the next several days until Wednesday when a cold front approaches the Black Hills.
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